Is Russia’s Robotic Space Program Headed for a Renaissance?

Russian space officials are rekindling their plans for moon exploration, and some say a rebirth of that country’s robotic space endeavors beyond low-Earth orbit is on the horizon.

Work is already underway on the Luna-Glob and Luna-Resource missions, to be launched in the coming years. These orbiters and landers are preludes to future spacecraft that would haul lunar samples back to Earth, ostensibly setting the stage for even grander plans, such as a Russian moon base.

Also on the Russian space books is an aggressive Venus mission, as well as an attempt at the first Mercury landing.